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Post by deuce on Aug 31, 2019 16:08:07 GMT -5
I went through a set of HRH novels (Quatermain set) a while back and am trying to read a volume with the complete She series. Sadly I don't sleep all that well now and it is affecting my leisure reading...
Edit -- here is the set I finished:
That edition has a Pablo Marcos cover. I hope your sleep troubles have lessened. |
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Post by deuce on Aug 31, 2019 16:12:39 GMT -5
Haggard on past lives and his disconnect (from his perspective) with the "modern age": A friend of mine who is a mystic of the first water amused me very
much not long ago by forwarding to me a list of my previous
incarnations, or rather of three of them, which had been revealed to
him in some mysterious way. Two of these were Egyptian, one as a noble
in the time of Pepi II who lived somewhere about 4000 B.C., and the
second as one of the minor Pharaohs. In the third, according to him, I
was a Norseman of the seventh century, who was one of the first to
sail to the Nile, whence he returned but to die in sight of his old
home. After that, saith the prophet, I slumbered for twelve hundred
years until my present life.
I cannot say that I have been converted to my friend's perfectly
sincere beliefs, since the reincarnation business seems to me to be
quite insusceptible of proof. If it could be proved, how much more
interesting it would make our lives. But that, I think, will never
happen, even if it be true that we return again to these glimpses of
the moon, which, like everything else, is possible.
Still it is a fact that some men have a strong affinity for certain
lands and periods of history, which, of course, may be explained by
the circumstance that their direct ancestors dwelt in those lands and
at those periods. Thus I love the Norse people of the saga and pre-
saga times. But then I have good reason to believe that my forefathers
were Danes. I am, however, unable to trace any Egyptian ancestor--if
such existed at all it is too long ago.
However these things may be, with the old Norse and the old Egyptians
I am at home. I can enter into their thoughts and feelings; I can even
understand their theologies. I have a respect for Thor and Odin, I
venerate Isis, and always feel inclined to bow to the moon!
Whatever the reason, I seem to myself to understand the Norse folk of
anywhere about 800 A.D. and the Egyptians from Menes down to the
Ptolemaic period, much better than I understand the people of the age
in which I live. They are more familiar to me. They interest me much
more. For instance, I positively loathe the Georgian period, about
which I can never even bring myself to read. On the other hand, I have
the greatest sympathy with savages, Zulus for instance, with whom I
always got on extremely well. Perhaps my mystical friend has left a
savage incarnation out of his list.
For these reasons I know well that I could never be a success as a
modern novelist. I can see the whole thing; it goes on under my eyes,
and as a magistrate and in other ways I am continually in touch with
it. I could write of it also if I could bring myself to the task. I
would undertake to produce a naturalistic novel that would sell--why
should I not do so with my experience? But the subject bores me too
much. The naturalism I would not mind, but if it is to be truthful it
is impossible and, to say the least, unedifying. The petty social
conditions are what bore me. I know this is not right; but it is a
failing in myself, since under all conditions human nature is the same
and the true artist should be able to present it with equal power. But
we are as we are made. Even the great Shakespeare, I observe, sought
distant scenes and far-off events for his tragedies, seeking, I
presume, to escape the trammels of his time.~ H. Rider Haggard ~  |
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Post by charleshelm on Sept 2, 2019 12:59:57 GMT -5
I still don't sleep much but hopefully it will get better, just got back from a long vacation. Thanks.
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Post by bunty0barbarian on Jan 26, 2020 11:54:09 GMT -5
I've just finished reading King Solomon's Mines a couple of days, and it is easily the most entertaining book I've ever read yet. The lunar eclipse scene, the 40 mile trek across the harrowing desert, and Death's council are such imaginative moments, that the only book that even comes close the Haggard's King Solomon' Mines, in terms of pure entertainment, or fast paced adventure is Gods of Mars. That said, I also found the book to be uncomfortably racist, due to the imperialistic tone. Nevertheless, and to Haggard's credit, he does portray a respectable view of African tribal culture, and Umbopa, Infadoos are standout characters from the story.
Also deuce, any opinions on Wisdom's Daughter? I'm planning to read the Quatermain-Ayesha cycle chronologically, and I've found mixed reviews about it.
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Post by almuric on Apr 22, 2020 19:37:21 GMT -5
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Post by Von K on Apr 23, 2020 19:07:30 GMT -5
A good overview, thanks Almuric. |
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Post by bunty0barbarian on Nov 11, 2022 14:53:54 GMT -5
Just finished by second Haggard novel from the RGL website. Ayesha truly is a character for the ages, Galadriel, Belit, Negari and perhaps Akivasha have traces of Ayesha in their DNA. I was also surprised by the horror elements (the hot pot ritual for instance) and downbeat ending of the book. Overall, I think She is the better story but King Solomon's Mines had the better characters.
I was debating what my third Haggard book should be between Cleopatra or Moon of Israel. I decided to go with Moon, as I was not that familiar with the Exodus story.
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